Question

The nurse gets a report, puts his patient assignment notebook in his pocket, and goes on break. His notebook has vary specific information about his patients and is missing from his pocket when he returns to the unit. The book is found later on the floor in the cafeteria by a visitor and is returned to the information desk. The nurse:?

1) May have breached the patient-self determination
2) Is guilty of criminal misconduct
3) Could be fired for malpractice
4) Has violated the health insurance portability and accountability act of 1996 (HIPPA)

Answer 1

The nurse has potentially violated HIPAA by failing to protect patient information, as the nurse's notebook with specific patient details was found in the cafeteria by an unauthorized person.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse has violated the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) by allowing specific information about their patients to potentially be disclosed to unauthorized individuals. HIPAA requires medical professionals to maintain the confidentiality of patient records and to ensure that patient information is protected from unauthorized access at all times.

When the nurse's notebook, containing detailed patient information, went missing and was later found in the cafeteria, there was a risk of a breach of confidentiality. This could lead to professional and legal repercussions for the nurse. The nurse's action reflects an oversight in safeguarding patient information which is mandated by HIPAA and may result in sanctions, mandated training, or other corrective actions imposed by the healthcare facility or licensing body.